Prince Harry Wants ‘Reconciliation’ But King Charles Won’t Speak to Him

Prince Harry is speaking out after losing a legal appeal regarding his security in the U.K., saying the matter has caused prolonged tension with his family.

The Duke of Sussex, 40, spoke with BBC News on May 2, shortly after a judge dismissed his legal challenge concerning his reduced security after stepping back as a working member of the royal family in 2020.

Prince Harry said in the new interview, “I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore.”

“Life is precious. I don’t know how much longer my father has,” he continued, referencing King Charles. The British monarch, 76, was diagnosed with cancer last year and is continuing treatment. “He won’t speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile.”

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The royal family’s rift first became public in 2020 when Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped back from their royal roles. For the Duke of Sussex, no single issue is a greater sticking point than that of security, multiple well-placed insiders in his circle previously told PEOPLE.

Despite a positive meeting between the father and son in February 2024 following the King’s cancer diagnosis news, their communication has since deteriorated. Those close to Prince Harry say the monarch no longer takes his son’s calls or responds to his letters. 

“He gets ‘unavailable right now,’ ” says a friend of Harry’s. “His calls go unanswered. He has tried to reach out about the King’s health, but those calls go unanswered too.”